Shoe-lace holder.



No. 674,494. Patented May 2|, I90I.

M. J. BBOTT.

SHOE-LACE HOLDER.

(Application filed Oct. 9, ISQQ. Renewed Oct. 26, 1900.)

(No Model.)

' ATENT FFICE.

MARY J. BROTT, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

SHOE-LACE HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,494, dated May 21, 1901.

Application filed October 9, 1899. Renewed October 26, 1900. Serial No. 34,472. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, MARY J. BROTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Shoe-Lace Holder, of which the following is a specification.

My object is to provide an improved device specially adapted to facilitate detachably fastening the ends of lacing-strings together and to a shoe to prevent the annoyance incident to lacing-strings of shoes and corsets from be.- coming u ntied,and by providing a ueat,strong, durable, and efficient clasp adapted to be permanently attached to one of the mating parts of a shoe, corset, and other garments that are to be laced together for detachably fastening the ends of strings securely together.

My invention consists in the device hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe as required for practical use and shows the shoe laced and the ends of the laces extended through the clasp and tucked inside of the shoe. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clasp in a closed and locked position. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are diagrammatical views of the forms of the three pieces of metal plate that are combined in the construction of the complete device. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the device, showing the end portions of lacing-strings clamped fast therein. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing myinvention in an open position and fixed to a top portion of a shoe.

The letter a designates a metal plate that has a narrowed extension I) atone end adapted to serve as a member of a hinge-joint in connecting it with another plate of corresponding size in such a manner that the two plates can overlie each other to clamp the end portions of a lacing-string together. It has an opening 0 at its other end to admit a hook. A mating plate 01 has a transverse slot f at one end to admit the part b of the plate a and a square opening g at its other end for the passage of a hook or curved lever h, hinged thereto. The plate a has longitudinal corrugations or beads m, adapted to enter corresponding grooves m in the plate (1 when the plates are in overlying position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6, and as required to bite and clasp lacing-strings placed between the overlying plates. The plate d has a perforation r at one end through which a rivet is extended for pivotally connecting the device to a shoe, as shown in Fig. 7. It also has an elongated slot 3, through which the ends of lacingstrings may be passed to aid in securely fastening them by means of the clasp.

In the practical use of my invention when applied as shown and when laced as required before tying the ends of the strings together in a common way I extend them over the under plate 01 and then press the upper hinged plate 60 upon the strings and fasten it down in overlying position relative to the plate by passing the free end of the curved lever it through the coinciding openings 9 and c and press it into a clamping position, as shown in Fig. 2, to lock the ends of the plates together.

It is obvious if desired the ends of the strings thus clamped fast may be also tied together and their free end portions tucked in the top of the shoe.

Having thus described the construction, application, and operation of my invention its utility will be obvious, and

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent therefor, is-

1. A fastener for'the ends of lacing-strings consisting of two elongated metal plates hinged together and provided with coinciding openings at their free ends for the passage of a lever, corrugations in the plates to bite upon lacing-strings, a lever hinged to the free end of the under plate and adapted to pass through said coinciding openings in the free ends of the two overlying plates, and means for fastening the one end of the under plate to a shoe, arranged and combined to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

2. A device for fastening lacing-strings, comprising a curved metal plate having one end adapted to be riveted to one of the mating top parts of a shoe and its other end portion provided with an opening for the passage of the free end of the said curved lever, arthe free end of a lever, a curved lever hinged ranged and combined to operate in the manto said plate, a mating curved plate hinged net set forth for the purposes stated.

to one end of the said first-mentioned plate MARY J. BROTT. 5 to overlie it and provided with an opening Witnesses:

that will coincide with the opening in the L. B. BROTT,

first-mentioned plate to admit the passage of THOMAS G. ORWIG. 

